Apple sends controversial ‘gay cure’ app into exodus

Exodus International made news last week with the release of its self-titled application in Apple’s App Store. The organization billed the application as a resource for those looking to help cure themselves or someone else of homosexuality. Now the app is making news again, as Apple has pulled it from the App Store. Apple has been a quiet supporter of gay rights, and during the 2008 Proposition 8 campaign in California, the company issued the following statement: “Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation.” The statement, which was made via its website, accompanied a $100,00o donation to the campaign opposing “Prop 8.” An online petition started by change.org collected over 140,000 signatures in an attempt, which appears to have been successful, to get Apple to remove the controversial Exodus app. Apple has yet to issue a statement to articulate why Exodus’ application was removed from its mobile app store.